Last Updated on August 28, 2022
Boxing legend Mike Tyson told Greta Van Susteren of Newsmax that he has become more conservative as he has gotten older. The former heavyweight champ said that he doesn’t particularly enjoy discussing politics because it creates division among his friends and family.
Tyson discussed a wide range of topics during his all-encompassing interview with Newsmax, including life in the state of Florida and recent health scares. When the discussion turned to politics, Tyson provided some insight into his ideology, though he did not want to elaborate too much.
“Listen, if I start talking politics, my friends aren’t going to like me. Let’s just not do that, OK? Let’s just not do that,” Tyson said while grinning.
“My family gets mad, my friends get mad when we talk politics,” Tyson said. “When I was younger, I was all-out liberal. But as I get older, and I look at my children, and I see what’s out there in the world, I get a little conservative. … It’s common sense, looking at the world we have now. You want safety.”
.@MikeTyson: "When I was younger, I was an all out liberal, but as I get older and I look at my children and I see what's out in the world, I get a little conservative. Ya know, It's common sense… you want safety."
MORE: https://t.co/7ll3XO81sf pic.twitter.com/JN44EQWV14
— Newsmax (@newsmax) August 27, 2022
Not long after, Van Susteren did return to political discussion in order to ask what Tyson thought of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Tyson appeared interested in talking at length, but ultimately decided not to, sticking to his earlier reasoning. “I can’t talk names … the last time I tried to talk politics [publicly], Wow, did they give me a beating.”
Tyson soon confirmed that he was talking about backlash from corporate media outlets. “I stay away from politics and religion. They stole my freedom of speech,” Tyson said.
Mike Tyson has never been known to be enthusiastic about politics either way, but he has a high opinion of former President Donald Trump.
Trump’s casinos hosted a number of high-profile boxing matches and early UFC fights at his hotels and casinos. Tyson most notably fought in a massive title unification bout with Michael Spinks at the Atlantic City Convention Hall in 1988 after Trump placed an $11 million bid.
The former heavyweight champ worked with Trump frequently in the late 80’s and early 90’s, and the respect between the two remains. Tyson previously spoke on his positive opinion on Trump during an interview with The Huffington Post in 2015.
“That sh** is the real deal. Listen: I’m a black mother***** from the poorest town in the country. I’ve been through a lot in life,” Tyson said of racism accusations against Trump. “And I know him. When I see him, he shakes my hand and respects my family. None of them- Barack, whoever- nobody else does that. They’re gonna be who they are and disregard me, my family.”
“So I’m voting for him. If I can get 200,000 people or more to vote for him, I’m gonna do it,” Tyson added.